Greater Philly ~ Haverford & Lafayette Hill

On Friday night, I was blown away by the amazing crowd that came to experience Sound Medicine at Prana Das Yoga in Haverford!! It had been just over a year since I was last there, and both the community and the space itself have grown considerably!The space was so packed, and even after our official start time, people continued to pour in! We ended up needing to move some of the furniture in order to make room for everyone to rest comfortably ~ what a nice surprise! Sometimes a group of people collectively go very deep in this process, and I can feel it opening up, and Friday night was deep, for sure. It always means so much to me when people really let go into the journey space, and connect with their own true knowing. In the conversations that followed this journey, I was witness to rich reflection and deep commitment to personal growth shared by several beautiful souls, and it is these conversations that really are touching to me. One that really lingers in my mind is from a conversation with a young mother, as we shared our curiosity about and desire to heal the wounds of our ancestors in order to resolve ancient pain that we continue to carry and pass on to our children. I was truly touched as she shared about her little ones, and the ways that her own work to heal the painful stories from her life is providing her children with a very different experience growing up. *This* is the very essence of the transformation that is happening all around the world at this time ~ truly beautiful!

My beloved friends Charlie and Joan are such gracious and kind hosts, and I am always so grateful for the care they offer when I stay with them. Charlie always wants to make sure I’m taken care of, and even changed out a dead headlight bulb before I headed out for the next part of the tour. I was excited to have some time with him to help him with his new adventure ~ learning to play the Native American flute! The rain was heavy during the night on Friday, but Saturday morning was clear, and we sat out on the patio, enjoying the cool, damp air, playing the flute ~ Charlie had already discovered so much on his own while camping in the Montana wilderness the week before, and we explored new techniques to add to his style and creative expression. He’s a natural, and I can’t wait to hear how amazing he sounds next time!!

On Saturday afternoon, I made my way to Sit Meditation Space, a new meditation practice studio in Lafayette Hill. Jason, the visionary owner, was enthusiastic and down to earth, and I liked him right away. Soon after my arrival, another bright spirit, Anthony, joined us ~ both of these kind gentlemen insisted on helping me bring all the instruments into the space, and were eager to learn more about Sound Medicine, and about my path. I immediately felt a connection with this community, and was sure that if I lived in the Philly area, these would be my people. As more people joined us, I was really delighted by the fun, lighthearted, genuine, and open energy, and the whole place was truly a breath of fresh air. The guys had arranged the space beautifully, and since we were an intimate group, everyone was treated to exquisitely comfortable accommodation for the journey. It’s rare that I’ve played in a space with no windows, totally enclosed ~ but those spaces feel so much like a womb, and allow us to be in near total darkness with few distractions. It was awesome!!

Following the journey, I was so happy to hear someone singing the closing song, Compassion, one of my newest songs ~ and he said it was going to be stuck in his head for a long time. It really is the *best* when I get to experience these songs ~ and this work ~ land fully with people, carrying the message as intended, and lingering as a positive influence in their lives. It made my day!! As I packed up and prepared for a long drive to Corning, NY ~ my stopover on the way to the Buffalo area ~ I was invited to come again next time, and I surely will! Just before heading out the door, Anthony shared a few minutes of Reiki to help me transition from journey space to the highway, and it was a wonderful gift. I left feeling grounded, awake, and filled up from so much positivity! I hope that spaces like this really take off in this culture, as we need a mainstream movement toward being mindful, practicing presence, and learning to listen within ourselves with great courage. The journey continues!!